Birders,



The Redwing (Turdus iliacus) which was found on South Valley Drive in
Saanich, BC (near Victoria) on December 19, and the Siberian Accentor which
was found along 160th Street in Surrey, BC (near Vancouver) on January 3,
are both being seen almost every day by birders, through at least January
11. If you plan to come look for either of these birds, please check the BC
Rare Bird Alert website at http://bcbirdalert.blogspot.ca , which gives good
directions and is updated daily, or almost daily. (To see the Redwing
account, you will have to scroll down a bit on the homepage, but it is most
definitely there.) This website is the best resource for anyone planning to
go look for a recently-reported rare bird in BC.



Both the Redwing and the Siberian Accentor are elusive birds, which may take
a long wait (several hours) to get a good look: the Redwing because it
spends most of its time hidden in holly trees, and the Accentor because it
is very active, moves frequently, and travels often with a flock of juncos
at some distance from 160th Street, which is the only access point. However,
most observers with sufficient patience have been able to find these birds.



Best of luck to anyone trying to find either of these birds!



Wayne C. Weber

Delta, BC

contopus at telus.net